Perceived MDC-T supporters have been left out, despite the inputs being bought using government funds from the Ministry of Finance under the farm mechanisation programme.
Last week President Mugabe praised the Finance Minister Tendai Biti for releasing early the funds allocated to the farm mechanisation programme.
Headmen working with members from the Zimbabwe National Army and senior Zanu (PF) officials, especially aspiring Members of Parliament, will control the distribution of the inputs.
The move will also be taken as a campaign platform for the forthcoming envisaged elections.
Villagers told The Zimbabwean last week that only Zanu (PF) card carrying villagers would receive the inputs, which include seed and fertilizers (compound and ammonium nitrate).
District Administrators who are all aligned to Zanu (PF) will distribute farm implements including hoes, ox-drawn ploughs and disc harrows among others.
“Suspected MDC-T supporters were left out and the headmen only wrote names of people who are well known Zanu (PF) sympathisers,” said a villager from Chief Chiduku. “It is not fair at all. These inputs were sourced by the government of
Zimbabwe and not Zanu (PF). The painful thing is that the beneficiaries, who are war veterans, will sell these inputs for a song, depriving other villagers of access to these inputs.”
War veterans interviewed said MDC-T supporters should not receive anything as the land reform was a Zanu (PF) initiative.
“This is a Zanu (PF) thing so what do MDC people want. They have got money from donors let them go and buy the inputs elsewhere,” said Kenneth Machemedze, a well-known war veteran in Headlands.
Over the years, the distribution of farm inputs and implements have been marred in controversy as only chiefs, headmen, Zanu (PF) officials and councillors, senior army officials and a few selected party activists have been benefitting. Despite being offered these inputs and implements, the country has continued to produce poor harvests.
Post published in: News